How to Check Engine Ignition Timing?

[DiCamila]

Ignition timing: At the end of the engine's compression stroke, when the piston reaches the top of its stroke, the ignition system provides a high-voltage spark to the spark plug to ignite the compressed air-fuel mixture in the cylinder for power generation. This moment is called ignition timing. The method to check engine ignition timing is as follows: 1. Start the engine and allow it to reach normal operating temperature. 2. Suddenly accelerate the engine while it's idling and observe its performance. 3. If the engine speed increases sluggishly, feels dull, or there's a sputtering sound from the exhaust pipe, it indicates that the ignition is too late. In this case, rotate the distributor housing against the rotation direction of the distributor shaft to appropriately increase the initial ignition advance angle. If engine knocking (sharp metallic pinging) occurs during rapid acceleration, it means the ignition timing is too early. Rotate the distributor housing in the same direction as the distributor shaft's rotation to appropriately decrease the ignition advance angle.